Radiator-vent valve



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,673 .JLL. JACOBUS .RADIATOR vmu'r VALVE Filed April 10, 1928 Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

PAT NT OFFICE. I,

JESSE L'. J ACOBUS, OF NEWARK, NEW .nmsm'.

RADIATOR-VENT VALVE. r v i 7' Application med April 10,

This invention relates to valves for Venting air fromradiators of steam heating systems, 7 and more particularly the invention concerns valves of this general character which are so constructed as to prevent entrance of air into the radiators when the pressure therein falls below atmospheric pressure.

One object of the invention is to provide a radiator venting valve of the character described embodying novel and improved features of construction including a valve which automatically seats itself upon reduction in pressure in theradiator below atmospheric, which ispositively held seated by a thermostatic element as steam enters the valve to prevent escape of steam from the radiator and is releasedbysaid thermostatic element as steam leaves the radiator so that the valve may be un'seat'ed to permit escape of air as may be necessary upon influx of steam pressure into the radiator. j Another object is to rovide such a valve including a novel and improved disc valve element and seat whereby tendency to sticking of the valve'on its seat is practically eliminated, so that the valve element is extremely sensitive to pressure within the radiator and easilyand quickly ,unseat's to permit escape of air from the radiator. v V

Further objects are 'to provide a radiator vent valve including a novel and improved form of construction and combination of valve element and thermostatic element, whereby the valve is extremely sensitive and reliable in operation; to provide a disc valve element cooperating with an annular seat and to so arrange said disc valve element that its normal tendenc is to automatically, by action of gravity, isengage itself from the seat; to provide novel and improved means for locking such a valve against unauthorized removal from a radiator; to provide a valve of this character, which is simple and inexpensive in construction and is easily accessible for adjustment or repair, and to obtain other results-and advantages which will be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the severalviews by the same reference characters,-

Figure 1 is an enlargedvertical sectional view through a radiator vent valve embodying my invention, showingthe same attached 192a. serial No. 268,870. a

to a radiator which is fragmentarily illustrated, the parts'being shown in the position assumed when steam is in the valve casing. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of'Figure 1, and

' Figure .3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, the valve being shown with the parts in theposition assumed when the valve is cold and the valve element held to its seat by vacuum within the radiator. f

Specifically describing'the illustrated em bodiment of my'invent-ion, the reference charwith an axial opening 7 communicating at one end with the interior of the section 4 and withwhich cooperates a valve 8 actuated by a float 'so that upon influx of water into the casin'g'A, the passage 7' is closed to prevent outflow of water from the valve.

lateral passa e 9 in the boss-6 has at one end an'annular sharp-edged ridge serving as a valve seat 10 with, which cooperates a disc valve 11 formed of a thin circular sheet of non-corrosive metal. The valve seat is arranged atthe base of avalve chamber or recess 12 formed in the side of the boss 6, and the valvedisc 11 is 'held within said" chamber by a thermostatic element'13. -This'thermostatic element is of any suit able construction, preferably laminated with metals having different coefiicients ofexpansion, and is in'the form of a curved band surrounding the boss 6" with one end'fast secured to the boss as at 14, and the other end provided with a bearing head 15 to abuttingly contact withthe valve disc 11. The boss 6 and thermostatic element 13 are enclosed by a top section or cap 16 which has a screw threaded connection 17 with the main section 4 of the casing A, said top section having vent openings 18 to permit escape of air from the casing. Y I

In operation, the valve is applied to thejradiator with the casing A in vert-icalposition, that is with the axis of the casing disposed vertically. The valve disc 11 is thus disposed'in As steam enters the radiator, and assuming that air ispresent, the valve disc 11 will be forced from its seat by the pressure of the outgoing air, and the air. will escape. through the vent openings 18. When. steam enters the valve casing the thermostatic element expands so that the bearing head 15 is moved inwardly into contact with the valve disc and forces and holds'the latter in tight engagement with the valve seat to prevent the escape of steam.

It will be observed that the normal tendency of'the valve disc is to fallawaytrom the valve seat 10, so that there is a minimum of resistance to the outflow of air. Furthermore, the valve seat 10 is of small area and large diameter so that a considerable area of the valve ,disc is exposed .to the pressure of the air-which further overcomes the resistance of the valve disc to movement away from the valve seat. A valve constructed in accordance with my invention has been found to be extremely sensitive and reliable in operation. The valve is quickly responsive to suction within the radiator,land in combination with the valve seat 10 is also quickly responsive to pressure within the radiator; and its normal tendency to unseat itself'by gravity minimizes the tendency of thevalve disc to stick on the valve seat. v V

' Itisdesira-ble to provide means for locking the valve against imauthorized removal from the radiator. For this'purposel provide two set screws 19 in the-base section l'of the casing,

said screws being arranged ina common axial plane. of the nipple 2 and-one thereof being disposed at each side of said nipple as clearly shown in Figure 2. The base section is formed with a reenforcing rib 20 which the set screws are mounted, and with this construction it will be observed that after the valve' niipple 2 has been screwed into the radiator and the two set screws 19 tightened against the outside of the radiator, the valve nipple'cannot be turned without loosening both the screws 19. The particular relative arrangement'of the screws and the nipple enables abalancing of the strain imposed on the nipple by the screws, so that all lateral strains such as would tend to bend the nipple may'be avoided.

' It is also desirable to provide a water return tube 21 in the valve which is disposed with the passage of the nipple 2 and communicates with the openings 3 so that the Water may return through said tube without interference with the, steam passing into the casing-A t rough the nipple 2.

VVhileI have shown and described my valve as embodying certain details of construction it will be understood thatthis is primarily [for the purpose of illustrating the principles being means for supporting'said' disc edge- Wise and permitting movement thereof toward and from said seat, and a thermostatic element in said casing to have aseparable abutting contact with said disc so 'asto permit said disc to independently .move against said seat and away thereiromunder pressure from within said casing'and under influence ofgravity when the valve is. cool and force and hold said disc againstsaid seat when the valve is at a predeterminedfhigher temperature. l r V p 2. A valve of the character'described comprising a casing haiving an inlet and an outdet opening surrounded .by 'a valve seat in the form of an annulars'harp-edged ridge disposed at thebase of .a recess outward of said opening, a valve disc arranged .in said recess to cooperate with said valve seat, said disc being normally disposed in a vertical. plane and resting edgewise upon the side wall of saidrecess, .and a thermostatic element in said casing to have a separable abutting contact with said disc so .as to permit said disc to independently move against said seat and away therefrom under pressure from within said casing and under influence of gravity when the valve is cool and force-and hold said disc againstsaid seat when the valve is at .a predebeing means for supporting said disc .edgewise andpermitting movement thereof toward and irom said seat, and a curved laminated thermostatic-element secured at one end to said boss andsurroun ding the boss with the other end having a separable :abutting contact with saiddiscso as to permitsaid disc to. independently move againstsaid seat under influence of partial vacuum within said casing and away from said seat under influence of pressure within said casing and action of gravity when the valve is cool, the second-mentioned end of said thermostatic element being moved to force and hold said disc against said seat when the valve is at a predetermined higher temperature.

4. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet and a boss having an outlet passage opening through one side of said boss surrounded by a valve seat, disposed at the base of a recess outward of said opening, a valve disc arranged in said recess to cooperate with said seat, said disc being normally disposed in a vertical plane and resting edgewise upon the side wall of said recess, and a curved laminated thermostatic element secured at one end to said boss and surroundin the boss with the other end having a separafile abutting contact with said disc so as to permit said disc to independently move against said seat under lnfluence of partial vacuum within said casing and away from said seat under influence of pressure Within said casing and action of gravity when the valve is cool, the second mentioned end of said thermostatic element being moved to force and hold said disc against said seat when the valve is at a predetermined higher temperature.

JESSE L. JACOBUS. 

